Missouri Quarter Released this Weekend

St. Louis, Mo. – The new Missouri commemorative quarter will be launched this weekend at the state fair in Sedalia.

Missouri, being the 24th state to enter the union, is the 24th state to get its own quarter.

Its design, which was selected by a public vote, features explorers Lewis and Clark and the Gateway Arch. The director of the U-S Mint, Henrietta Holsman Fore, says she is proud of the new 25-cent piece.

"Lewis and Clark is wonderful image. You get the sense of exploration immediately. You get the sense of time, 1804 to 2004 with the Gateway Arch in this quarter, so that Missouri's history is seen on this quarter. It's a beautiful quarter. I think it's going to be a fine collectible," Fore said.

Fore says the US Mint will release 450,000 Missouri quarters this year.